However, a partial power outage in the Superdome following the return suspended play for 34 minutes (earning the game the added nickname of the Blackout Bowl).

[22] Beyoncé performed in the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, which featured a reunion with fellow Destiny's Child alumni Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Currently, this phenomenon can only be repeated if either the Ravens or the New York Jets play against either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New Orleans Saints in a subsequent Super Bowl.

New Orleans artist Ally Burguieres was selected to design the official medallion for Super Bowl XLVII, which was included on beads to commemorate the Mardi Gras tradition.

The same situation occurred in 2002 when the 9/11 attacks caused a one-week delay in the 2001 NFL season, resulting in the Super Bowl XXXVI falling within the Mardi Gras parade calendar.

[33][34][35] Under head coach John Harbaugh, who was in his fifth season with the team, Baltimore upgraded their roster with players such as defensive backs Sean Considine and Corey Graham, and wide receiver Jacoby Jones.

The Ravens also had an excellent set of linebackers, such as Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Jameel McClain, Terrell Suggs, and Ray Lewis.

[38] The Ravens secondary featured Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed, the NFL's all-time leader in interception return yardage.

[13] A quarterback controversy then began because Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 19–5–1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength.

Other key contributors to the passing game included tight end Vernon Davis (41 receptions for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns) along with offseason acquired receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss.

No team in NFC Championship Game history had ever overcome a deficit that large, but the 49ers proved up to the challenge, cutting the score to 24–21 going into the final quarter.

On January 24, Jack, along with his wife Jackie and daughter Joani, conducted a media conference call, answering questions about John and Jim.

Jackie jokingly asked if the game could end in a tie, before stating that the family was staying neutral but remain excited that both John and Jim brought their respective teams to the Super Bowl.

The pregame show, The Super Bowl Today, was hosted by James Brown and featuring analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher.

An international feed designed for areas less familiar with American football was produced by NFL Network, with Bob Papa (the regular-season voice of the New York Giants) calling play-by-play and Joe Theismann as color analyst.

In the United States, the game was carried nationwide over the Dial Global radio network, with Kevin Harlan as play-by-play announcer, Boomer Esiason as color analyst, and James Lofton and Mark Malone as sideline reporters.

In San Francisco, the game was broadcast on KSAN-FM and KNBR, with Ted Robinson on play-by-play, Eric Davis on color commentary, and Rod Brooks reporting from the sidelines.

[100] The coin toss ceremony featured the recent inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Warren Sapp, Bill Parcells, Jonathan Ogden, and Dave Robinson.

[107] The 49ers responded on their next possession, moving the ball 62 yards in a 12-play drive, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick completing a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree and a 24-yarder to Davis.

[107] The Ravens responded with a drive to the San Francisco 37-yard line, featuring a 30-yard catch by Boldin,[107] but had to punt after Flacco was sacked on third down for a 5-yard loss by defensive end Ray McDonald, pushing Baltimore out of field goal range.

[12] On the 49ers' next drive, Kaepernick completed back-to-back passes to Davis for 29 and 11 yards to reach the Baltimore 24, but three plays later, safety Corey Graham held up running back LaMichael James, allowing linebacker Courtney Upshaw to knock the ball loose, with defensive end Arthur Jones recovering the fumble on the 25-yard line.

[107] On the first play of the 49ers' next drive, safety Ed Reed intercepted a pass by Kaepernick and returned the ball 6 yards to the San Francisco 38-yard line.

On the second play of San Francisco's next drive, tight end Delanie Walker caught a 14-yard pass from Kaepernick, which was extended by a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty against defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.

[107] On the second play of the Ravens' next drive, they committed their only non-downs turnover when cornerback Tarell Brown forced and recovered a fumble from running back Ray Rice on the Baltimore 25-yard line.

However, the 49ers were unable to tie the game on the two-point conversion attempt when Kaepernick's pass sailed high over Moss' head, so the score remained 31–29 in favor of Baltimore.

[107][114] San Francisco managed to force a three-and-out on Baltimore's next drive, but as the 49ers only had one timeout remaining, the Ravens were able to run the clock down to 12 seconds.

[115] On the ensuing free kick, Ginn returned the ball 31 yards, but was tackled at midfield by linebacker Josh Bynes as time expired.

In an October 15, 2012, memo, Louisiana officials expressed concern that the equipment bringing electricity into the stadium from utility company Entergy had a "chance of failure".

The main broadcast booth was off line; sideline reporter Steve Tasker informed the audience that "a click of the lights"[118] had occurred and play had been halted.

[143] The previous six Super Bowls were played either in Florida or a retractable-roof stadium with the roof closed, warm enough for officials to wear the traditional white knickers.